Mandevilla plant named &#39;INMANREDGRAN&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Inmanredgran’, characterized by its upright and vining plant habit; strong and moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and large red-colored flowers that resist fading.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INMANREDGRAN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Inmanredgran’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Johannesburg, South Africa and Heidesheim, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new strong and freely branching Mandevilla plants that flower freely and have large attractive flowers that resist fading.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Johannesburg, South Africa in November, 2010 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number D09-1067-15, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number D09-1067-3, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany in June, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany, since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Inmanredgran’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Inmanredgran’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright and vining plant habit.     -   2. Strong and moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large red-colored flowers that resist fading.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are not as freely branching as         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller leaves than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3 Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger and lighter         green-colored leaves than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla hybrida ‘Lanlouisiana’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,873. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘Lanlouisiana’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Lanlouisiana’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller leaves than plants         of ‘Lanlouisiana’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla are more open and         larger than flowers of plants of ‘Lanlouisiana’.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Rio Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘Rio Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are larger and stronger than         plants of ‘Rio Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger leaves than plants         of ‘Rio Red’.     -   3 Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Rio Red’.     -   4. Flower color of plants of the new Mandevilla does not fade         whereas flower color of plants of ‘Rio Red’ fades.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inmanredgran’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inmanredgran’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late spring and early summer in 9.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Almeria, Spain and under cultural practices typical of Mandevilla commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. Plants were 15 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Inmanredgran’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number D09-1067-15.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number D09-1067-3. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 24 days at             temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 35° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 28 to 30 days at             temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 26 days             at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 35° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days             at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and vining plant habit;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 54.3 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 40.9 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about six lateral branches and about             six secondary branches developing per plant; pinching             enhances lateral branch development. Length: About 27.4 cm.             Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 5.7 cm.             Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy; becoming woody with development. Color, developing:             Close to between 143B and 144A. Color, developed: Close to             144A; when woody, close to between N199D to 200D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 7.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate to oblong.         -   Apex.—Short apiculate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker             than 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B.             Full expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than between             NN137A and 147A; venation, close to 143A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to             144C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144B. Color, lower surface: Close to             144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in axillary cymes; flowers star-shaped and face             mostly outwardly; freely flowering habit with about five             flowers developing per inflorescence and about 70 flowers             developing per plant during the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             spring into the autumn in Spain.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweetly acidic, pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 11.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 56A; towards the             base, close to 145A and 145B.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: Large, about 9.9 cm. Depth (length):             About 7.3 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.7 cm. Tube length:             About 4.9 cm. Tube diameter: Proximally, about 5 mm;             distally, about 1.9 cm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl; lower 48.5% portion of the petals are fused             into a tube. Petal length: About 10.5 cm. Petal width: About             4.4 cm. Petal shape and appearance: Roughly spatulate. Petal             apex: Apiculate to acute. Petal margin: Entire; slightly             undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; moderately glossy.             Throat and tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal,             when opening, upper surface: Darker and more intense than             N45A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to between             53A and 185A. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Darker and             more intense than 46A; venation, similar to lamina; color             does not fade with development. Petal, fully opened, lower             surface: Close to between 53A and 185A; color does not fade             with development. Throat: Close to 53A to 53B; venation,             close to 25B becoming closer to 15A to 15B with development.             Tube: Close to N144D; venation, close to N144D.         -   Corona.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl. Sepal length: About 9 mm. Sepal width: About             3 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly deltoid. Sepal apex: Narrowly             acute. Sepal base: Broadly cuneate. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Sepal texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte.         -   Sepal color.—Immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             145B; at the apex, close to 179A. Mature, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 145B to 145C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° from lateral branch             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color:             Close to 143C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 40° from peduncle axis.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 151D. Anther             shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther size: About 9 mm by 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 160C. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About             2.3 cm. Style length: About 1.85 cm. Style color: Close to             145D. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 146C. Ovary color: Close             to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 13. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Inmanredgran’ as illustrated and described. 